Recent Blog Posts
Sexual Harassment Exposes Employers to Serious Liability (California Company Will Pay $650,000)
On December 2, 2025, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced that two employers in California will pay approximately $650,000 to resolve a sexual harassment claim. Swami’s Café and Honey’s Bistro allegedly allowed a class of young female employees to face systematic sexual harassment in the workplace. In this article, our California employment attorney… Read More »
Bookstore in California Faces Disability Discrimination Lawsuit from EEOC
On September 25, 2025, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced a lawsuit against Barnes & Noble College Booksellers, a national company that is headquartered in New Jersey. The EEOC contends that the employer failed to make a good faith effort to provide an effective reasonable accommodation to a worker who had been diagnosed… Read More »
Governor Newsom Signs AB 288 Empowering California PERB
On September 30, 2025, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 288 (AB 288) into law. The bill empowers the California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) to handle matters that would otherwise be within the purview of the federal National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Here, our California employment attorney provides an overview of key… Read More »
California Announces Multi-Million Judgment Against Employers in Worker Misclassification Case
On October 2, 2025, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a $10 million judgment against employers that improperly classified in-home care workers as independent contractors. Care Specialist HCS Inc. (doing business as TLC Home Care Services) and its former owners and operators were cited for knowingly and recklessly misclassifying workers. Here, our California employment… Read More »
Top Ten 2026 Labor and Employment Law Updates
Increase in Minimum Wage As of January 1, 2026, the minimum wage in California will increase from $16.50 per hour to $16.90 for all hourly/non-exempt employees. This increase in minimum wage means that exempt employees in California must earn a minimum annual salary of $70,304 per year or $5,858.67 per month. Employers should be… Read More »
October Proclaimed Disability Employment Awareness Month in California
On October 7, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed October disability employment awareness month in California. There are more than seven million disabled Californians. Many of them make very important contributions to the workplace. The proclamation emphasizes that employers must comply with state and federal disability laws. Within this article, our Riverside County employment attorney… Read More »
What Employers Should Know About New CAL-Warn Notice Requirements (January 1, 2026)
Recently, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill that expanded employer obligations under the California Warn Act (CAL-Warn). Employers should be aware that they may be subject to additional notice requirements starting on January 1, 2026. Here, our California employment attorney provides an overview of the key things businesses and organizations should know about… Read More »
California Appeals Court Finds So-Called “Headless” PAGA Claims Permissible
In July of 2025, a California appellate court found that so-called “headless” PAGA claims are permissible (CRST Expedited Inc. v. Superior Court of Fresno County). It is an important decision, though the California Supreme Court may eventually need to weigh in on the matter. At Sloat Law Group, APC, we are committed to empowering… Read More »
Recent California Employment Case Shows Importance of Avoiding Appearance of Retaliation
On August 5, 2025, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced that an employer in California has agreed to pay $20,000 and take other remedial action in order to settle a workplace retaliation case. Martinez Animal Hospital reportedly terminated employment without properly considering religious accommodation. Here, our California employment lawyer explains how this case… Read More »
Minimum Wage is Increasing in California in 2026 (Employers Need to Be Prepared)
As confirmed by the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), the minimum hourly wage will increase in our state to $16.90 starting on January 1, 2026. It is jumping up $0.40 from the current minimum wage rate. Employers need to automatically make the change for affected employees. Here, our California employment lawyer provides a… Read More »